Ink by Amanda Sun

I happened to come by this incredible storytelling when I came across the sequel, Rain. From the synopsis, it looked like quite the intriguing read – complimented by it’s parchment-like cover and vibrant colors. If you judge a book by its cover, then this is the best judgement you could make. It’s beautiful.

The book starts in modern-day Japan when 16-year-old Katie Greene, hailing from the US, moves in with her aunt, Diane, after the death of her mother. She is thrown into a whole new culture and doesn’t even know the language. The first chapter begins with Katie braving the school where a massive breakup is occurring. With writing that makes you feel like you’re watching anime, she observes the disintegration of the handsome and best kendo warrior Yuu Tomohiro’s relationship. When his ex-girlfriend throws his sketchbook, the pages fling across the hallway. Katie picks up one where a young woman sits on a bench with an obvious baby bump is sketched onto it. The picture moves and the girl stares straight at Katie. This revelation unravels to a hectic and dangerous series of events as Katie begins to question who Tomohiro is and his abilities. His abilities that are beautiful conjurings that could turn monstrous at the second they slide off the page. Tomohiro attempts to keep her at bay but as Katie begins to notice special abilities within herself, fate forcibly draws them together.

The rose barely moved as I looked at it, its petals fluttering softly in the drafty airport. It almost looked normal. In fact, it was beautiful, the same beauty I saw in Tomohiro’s eyes when he gazed at the wagtails or the sukura trees, when he gave them life in his notebook. The look in his eyes when he gazed at me.

Despite Tomohiro’s efforts, their destiny twine together and love begins to blossom between them. Together, they face his powers against the Yukuza, the Japanese gang, who relentlessly try to expose his powers and use him to their own greedy end while an unseen force works in the background to use Tomohiro for their own end…

This book is well written. I couldn’t put the book down. It felt like I was reading manga which is an odd yet inspiring way to read a book written in words. Amanda Sun is an amazing storyteller and every new secret revealed is a firework. It never leaves you bored. The one thing I wasn’t too crazy about when it came to the book was the main character Katie. She seemed incredibly insecure a lot of the time and always second-guessing herself. I guess you could say that she isn’t the stereotypical strong-woman-beats-world. In this case, though, she fits right into the story that the author created. I think if she had been that typical strong woman, it would’ve made the story less beautiful and sensitive.

I couldn’t just run out of the airport. That wasn’t the way real life worked. Maybe in Japanese dramas, or the bad Hollywood flicks we watched in English Club. But I had a ticket in my jeans pocket, a suitcase on the seat beside me. You can’t just pick up and leave in real life. Can you?

I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who wants a new, fresh adventure outside of their comfort zone. It’s totally different than anything I have ever read. It was enlightening and a taste of a unique world while sitting in your bedroom.